Families in West Lothian had the chance to enjoy a Christmas Day feast free of cost, thanks to two selfless mums.
Deborah Gemmell, 43, and Lorna Brown, 40, ensured hundreds of people enjoyed a three-course meal along with an army of volunteers. They launched a social media page and raised funds for food hampers and gifts, helping those who would otherwise struggle.
Deborah launched the page a few years ago and it took off, with Lorna joining in last year. They provided hampers to 131 families at Christmas, reports the West Lothian Courier.
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They also provided families with extra treats and shopping vouchers for Aldi and Scotmid. Around 70 volunteers were on hand this year as they set about making up the hampers and delivering them on December 23.
Deborah said: “This is the third year, the first year we delivered 34 hampers and last year was 94, and this year it was over 130. The first year I came up with a random idea that I was going to help some people with Christmas dinner.
“It’s not just for people on benefits – working people are struggling as well. I worked with Family Support and a family wasn’t going to be having Christmas dinner and I felt awful for them, and thought I had to help them.
Deborah Gemmell and Lorna Brown from Bathgate
(Image: West Lothian Courier)
“Then realised there would be loads of families like that. I put up a Facebook post and then set up a JustGiving page and my own friends all donated money, that’s how it started.
“Now we have fundraising events during the year. We’ve had 90s nights and Lorna gets up and sings, and we have DJs. My house was so full of toys and stuff the first year that I couldn’t move. So the following year we had to get two storage units for all the toys.
“This year we didn’t do toys and instead directed them to Gerry Gallacher at the Kids in Need shop in Fauldhouse. We partnered with Gerry who sorted the families out with toys and gifts, and in return he referred people to us for the dinners.
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“People can self-refer themselves or if you knew someone who was struggling you could refer them, but it was a bit different this year as we set up an e-mail account this year and a referral form. We also had referrals from all different charities.”
The mums raised £15,000 this year and cut a great deal with LQ Meats, based in Dobbies in Livingston, for the Christmas dinners. Then they went out shopping for other food items, and bought vouchers.
As if doing all that wasn’t enough, Deborah and Lorna spread some more cheer in the town centre after the deliveries were complete.
Deborah started up a social media page and her For the Greater Good campaign a few years ago
(Image: West Lothian Courier)
“On December 23 we handed in the spare hampers we had to the West Lothian foodbank and gave them a £250 cash donation to buy stock, and gift vouchers to give out to families.
“Myself and Lorna then went and bought some Christmas cards, we put money inside with a note saying ‘Merry Christmas, from The Greater Good’, and walked around Bathgate precinct just handing out cards with money to lots of random individuals as a wee Christmas treat.
“But it’s not just at Christmas people are struggling, so we decided not to spend every single penny as we had in previous years and we’ve kept money in a pot to help people throughout the year with the odd bag of shopping and things like that.
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“Previously myself and Lorna had been spending our own money doing things like that. I’m a single parent and there’s times when I’ve been struggling myself, so I understand and I know how it feels – that motivates me more to help other people.”
Lorna and Deborah would like to say a special thanks to; Johnston and Smilie Charitable Trust, Heart Song Live radio, The FLEX Unit, Glenmavis Tavern, Sing West Lothian, Property Webb, Armadale Church of Spiritual Light, The Whisky Wallopers, Grand Master Sutherlands Martial Arts, and Balbardie Books for their very generous donations.
You can find more information on For the Greater Good on their Facebook page.